Immigrant Advocates Commend New York State Bar Association for Its Resolve to End the Inhumane Treatment of Immigrants

New York, NY– Today, as members of Congress visited migrant detention centers amid reports of deplorable and unsafe conditions, the New York Bar Association (NYSBA) passed a resolution calling on the United States government to immediately end the inhumane treatment of immigrant children in its custody and to reunite children with their parents.

On Friday, June 28, NYSBA passed a resolution urging New York State to enact a right to counsel in immigration proceedings, which would guarantee legal representation to individuals facing deportation.

In response, Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, issued the following statement:

“We commend the New York State Bar Association on its recent resolutions calling on our state to be the first in the nation to pass a statutory right to counsel for all immigrants, and calling on the U.S. government to remember its obligations to treat all migrants, especially migrant children, with compassion and dignity. Time and again, we have seen the legal profession stand up and act as first responders when our communities are under attack. The New York Immigration Coalition has long fought to increase access to counsel for immigrants facing enforcement and deportation in our state. We thank the lawyers who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us through the last few years, helping us defend our rights and fight back against Washington's anti-immigrant policies.”